Lack of effect of gold therapy on abnormal IgG and IgM metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract
Turnover studies with radioactive iodine‐labeled immunoglobulins (125IgG and 131IgM) and standard clinical tests were performed in 8 patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after 2–5 months treatment with sodium‐aurothiosulphate (Sanocrysine®). Seven untreated patients served as controls. Fractional rates of catabolism and rates of synthesis of IgG and IgM were increased in all patients. After gold treatment there was a nonsignificant decrease in IgG metabolic variables, whereas IgM variables remained unchanged. The reduction in immunoglobulin metabolism correlated with clinical and serologic activity in only 1 of the 8 cases.